Rain or Shine, Saturday's Scouting For Food Drive is a Go

Don't let the rain fool you. Local Boy Scouts will be pounding the pavement, rain or shine, to collect food donations for the Marin Food Bank on Saturday.

Nearly 2,000 young people in Marin hope to round up 40,000 pounds of food and deliver the bags to the food bank in Bel Marin Keys as part of the annual Scouting for Food drive. You probably received a door-hanger promotion a week ago asking you to leave bags of canned food or dry goods at your doorstep by 9 a.m.

If you haven't, take 5 minutes to do it now. We'll wait for you to come back and then tell you more about why this is such a crucial program.

Good to see you back.

One of the nation’s largest single-day food drives takes place Nov. 17 when Boy Scouts collect non-perishable food for local food banks so that Thanksgiving is a joyous, festive and tasty occasion for everyone — especially folks less fortunate than you.

“We can take substantial steps toward ending hunger by working together,” said Tim Buchen of the San Francisco Bay Area Council of Boy Scouts of America. “But even with 40,000 Scouts on collection routes, we can’t hit every doorstep. So it’s critical that people help us out by dropping off food at their local site or participating in a Scout troop’s Virtual Food Drive.”

In the Bay Area, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Venturers, Explorers have set a goal of 450,000 pounds of collected goods this year.

“We’re bracing for our busiest holiday season yet. Each month, hundreds of families are calling us for help for the very first time,” said Suzan Bateson, executive director of the Alameda County Community Food Bank. “Food Banks rely on the Scouting for Food drive to provide healthy staples that will go directly to families for their Thanksgiving and holiday meals over the coming weeks.”

Michael Dybeck, CEO of the Scouts' Marin Council, said it's a huge day for local scouts.

"We are proud of our Marin Scouts who conduct this good turn," he said. "Scouting for Food reinforces the Scouting value: 'A Scout is helpful.' While we might hope for better weather, a service project in the rain reminds us that 'a Scout is cheerful.' Rain or shine we are glad to support those who need a helping hand this holiday season."

FYI, residents who do not receive a door-hanger Nov. 10 are not on a collection route, but they can still contribute by dropping off donations between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at locations listed below or at www.bayareahunger.org. Whole Foods Market, Safeway and Lucky have in-store barrels to accept donations for Bay Area food banks throughout the holiday season.

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